Reflector set-up and register table



Dec. 3. 1940- -P. M. NAI-:MENS

REFLECTOR SET-UP AND REGISTER TABLE Filed July 17, 19:59. 3 Sheets-Sheet l V Dec. 3,` 1940. P. M. NAHMENs REFLECTOR SET-UP AND REGISTER TABLE Filed Ju1y.1'7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffzve'rzor HAMM Jay P. M. NAHMENS REFLECTOR SET-UP AND REGISTER TABLE Dec. 3,l 1940.

Filed- July 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Ryo".

jvzvezazar MDM/wm Patented Dec. 3, 1940 l t 3,

y UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE fjK 'f Qa'zzssv l Rnrrno'ron SET-UP AND REGISTER TABLE Paul Martin Nahmens, Evanston, Ill.

Application July 17, 1939, Serial No. 285,021

7 claims. (o1. sys- 1845)` A "This invention relates to improvements Vin revation of the table with the pressure frame `ilector setu'p and register tables forwprinters down, part of the enclosingsheathing being use. The table is used in thecorrugated box omitted.

Aprintir'ig industryy as welll as in letterA press and Fig. 4 Vis aview similar to Fig. 3 but with the manifold printing and in such other industries pressure frame in raised position. as use rubber dies on backing board. The table Fig. is an enlarged cross sectionaldetail view provides a method of quickly and accurately atillustrating the vacuum cup assembly.

taching set-up andA pre-registered dies on the Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the table with the backing board ready for printing, ythus elimipressure frame removed. l 10 nating the costly and time wasting method of Fig. 7 is a `View in front elevation of the com-l 10 registering; 'time and again, dies when on thel plete table in use andwith the pressure frame press cylinder. The method employed'with the down.

presenttable is simple `and direct and does not Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan VeW require the services of an expert. of the setting attachment employed. g One vobject is to provide mechanism of this Fig. 9 isa vertical cross sectional View throug 15 type that 'is almost entirely automatic in oper- Fig. 8, taken on theline 9``9 thereof.

ation, that effects a great saving in time and la- Like reference characters denote Correspondbor and that functions very accurately. This is ing parts throughout the several views.

'particularly true where color register is con- Thetable is inthe present nStanCe Of OblOng' 2o cerned, the savingV of time and labor running shape and includes the supports or legs l that 20 from twenty-five to ninety per cent. A subf- "are connected and braced by the sides and rails stantial saving of material is also effected. `2. Aplatform 3 is provided for -themotor 4 The graphic arts industry, that is the letter and airrpump 5, within the frame, operatively press and offset lithographinguse register tables connectedby the belt 6, the table being enclosed wherein the printed sheetis laid printed side lon three sides and open only in front. `Dis.- 25 up and straight edges are used for determining lposed above the platform and supported by the Athe straightness of the printed pages or form. legs l3` is the mirror 'I arranged in a frame 8 and `Means particularly adapted for use here are also disposed 'at an Oblique angle. The mirror iS 0f provided. Particularly is` the present table substantially the same Vwidth but slightly lessr adapted for use in the corrugated box printing length than the table with its higher end at the'30 industry where rubber dies are-used to print on back and its lower end at the front thereof,4 corrugated lpaper as this paper would not stand Top rails connect the legs I and provide a supup` if metal dies were used under the pressure port OI the hOIiZOIltellY diSpOSed glass Gable 1301 then required. The corrugated box industry tol0 secured thereto by the angles Il and rivets,

- day uses a graduated rule Vstraight edge and sad'top being of the same size as said mirror. 35 .marks out the position of .the rubber dies on pat The tablel t0n S 0fA a predetermined thickness per rst, then glues these dies down on a mat .andthe angular posi-tion or inclination of the `which is ruled. This, however, is a slow and mirror 1 `has a direct relation thereto so thatr a tedious method and not accurate, particularly true reflection 'is had..u

when a second color is to be registered into the Adjustably supported by `the angles Il below 40 inst. It is .practically a hit or miss method. the tabletop are the reflectors 12, preferably two Thepresent table is designed to overcome the in number, disposed along the front of the .table .weak points of the old procedure. and preferably equipped with four twenty-four 'More specifically the invention consists in the inch fluorescent mercury Vapor lamps thus P170- combination and arrangement of parts to be viding ample light and .due to the structure and 1- 45 hereinafter fully described, pointed out'in the arrangement of saidA reflectors designed especlaims and illustrated in the accompanying cially for the table an even light diffusion redrawings, in which sults., An Alcona aluminum specular lighting Fig. 1 is a plan View of the present reflector reflector formedin the shape of a double parabset-up and register table. ola with welded 4steel housing lamp receptacles 50 Fig. 2 is an inverted -plan view of the cover or `is provided, the lreflectors being adjustable topressure frame removed, showing the vacuum ward and away Afromthe table top on pivots I6 .cups employed; various sizes of sheets to be carriedby the frame of top Ill.A printed being shown in dotted lines. lThe lamps are operated from a .single light i Fig.. 3 is aview, slightly. enlarged, in end ele- `switch I3 mounted tothe yfront center leg of the 55 Asleeves v27, open at side sheathing, and to the same the angular perforated guide brackets l5 are pivotally secured for a purpose tobe hereinafter set forth. Se-

cured to the backv of the table by hinges l1 is the top or pressure frame IB reinforced by angular braces I9 extending from front to back` across the bed 29 of the frame, said angles being disposed upon the upper orV outer side ofthe same. Received upon the under side of the bed of the frame is a blanket 2l of sponge rubber or a likematerial but not too porous and formed with a plurality of rather large perforations 22 disposed in a predetermined manner. .Handles 4I are providedfor the frame.

Secured at their ends to the front and rear sides of .the pressure frame aregthgearched bars in said bars being nearer the front than the back of said pressureframesaid bars beingarranged in `pairs-near opposite ends vof `the frame and receiving through vtheir highest points thetubular liitrord 24 that extends'longitudinallyof the table and beyond the l,ends thereof. Pivotally `secured to theends of said rod 24are the eyeforming terminals of the threaded piston rods 25 secured in adjusted positionby ythe stop eollars 23, said piston rods extending through the perforated guide brackets VILS I and through the both ends, secured at one end to said brackets.

An expansion coil spring28 receives each piston, one end of each spring abutting `a bracket l5 and the other end abutting the lock nuts 29 adjustably. arranged upon each piston rod between a spring and the pivoted en d of the rod thus forming a weight-compensating support for the very heavy pressure frame. Arranged in eachl perforation in theV sponge rubber blanket is a rubber suction cup 30 with its base disposed upon the oor 2i! of the pressure frame and its mouth disposed outwardly, the diameter of said cup mouth being normally but lightly less than that of the perforation so that` when/pressure is applied upon the up it will partly flatten or broadenA out at *its mouth and close the blanket perforation, the exteriorly threaded hollow stem 3l of said cup extending through the oor, said v `stem being hanged` interiorly of said cup and provided with a ,washer 9 and nut 32 whereby it may be releasably and operatively secured A to said pressure frame. Each cup stem `v3| is screwed Vinto an elbow coupling 33 connecting it to a branch air pipe 34 coupled to a distributionpipe 35 connected to and fed through a supply Apipe 35i connected vby the flexible air hose 31 to the said air pump 5. Air cocks `38 Aare provided throughout the system in the distribution pipe 35 and one or more branch pipes as desired to control the air. v

Referring again to the glass table top the same is provided along its forward edge, top side, with a steel rule 39 graduated in inches and fractiQns thereof `andalong. its left end with a shrink rule 4U graduated .962;to the inch. This .ratio allows 1 for cylinder-circumference, plus backing board anddie on a 52 cylinder. Shrink rulesjfor other size cylinders,A such as 432 and 42 are,.of course, readily provided. lSlidably mount- -ed upon opposite.sides Yof. the;.rule 39 :are the removable setting attachments, manuallyoperated and each of which .includes vathin flat carriage A2,' 'substantiallysquare inshape, that-extends across the; rule ,and.slightlyltherebeyond 45 in its outer end engaging the inner threaded periphery of said sleeve and receiving the inner endof the coil spring 46 in said sleeve. u

The opposite end of said spring 46 is secured to the ball bearing 41 that abuts the glass frame.

`The rearward side of the carriage is bifurcated tov provide clearance for the rub-ber Afoot 48 carried in ya recessed portion of the lug 49 secured to the ,free end of the resilient finger 50 secured to the thickened portion 43 of .said carriage, an-elongated wedge 5l formed with the longitudinal slot .52-being insertedbetween said linger and carriage' and releasably'retained in adjusted position Vby means of the set screw 53 disposed in said slot and engaging the carriage.

`Referring again to the vacuum suction cups the-arrangement of, the same upon V,thefunder side.,of the pressure frame isshown in Fig. 2. These cupsare arranged in series to enable the lpressure frame to pick up and retain backing vboards .of various sizes. The outermost series of cupsl are arranged close to 4the dotted line 54 denoting a backing board of substantiallyy the `area ofthe face ofthe pressure frame and they are connectedv by thetwoouterrnost branch air pipes 34 and distribution -pipe -.35,through supply pipe 36 and hoseu3`l to the air pump. The successively narrower backing boards denoted by the dotted ylines 55, 55, ,51, 58, 59,160 areconnected by the corresponding ,branch air pipes 34, pipe 35, supply pipe 36 and hose 31 to ,the pump also. The air .cocks 38 are so located in the system, Fig. l, that the series of `cups from the outermost to the narrowest or innermost may be cut on fromthe pump as desired and depending upon the backing board being used.

Incorrugated box printing a layout is rlrstV ated rules on the leftand bottom of the glass top. One line is made :for the top and o-newfor the left side of the backing board, which is then lined up to these lines. The bottom of the board is linedagainst ,the bottom rule. All backing `boards.regardless.of size, are .lined against the bottom rule. as thevacuumcups are arranged in the blanket forthis layout and .in this manner a Straight edge `fromwhich. to Workis provided. The backing board, ynwvx1.inec1 up. frame is manually loweredeently u into horizontal position.

The very material Weight of the pressure frame will cause the vacuum cups tf1-assume the dotted Somewhat -atteoed position shown vin Fig. 5. 'lineair Cocks controlling anyseries of vacuum cups :not contacting the board, due to the size of the .backingfboard are cutoff. The other aircooksare `Open vand thezmotoris started thus causing thepump to draw vacuum.

,on the board "Agentle manual pressure is nowapplied -to .the pressureframe to cause :the cups to `take hold.

frame inY raisedposition .andfthe vacuumfbeing still on, the backing board .willremain supported bythe cups. rIlhe dies are .now laid .upon the the pressure glass top, face down. .The backs of the dies are swabbed with blueandbylooking into themirror below where the dies are seen reflected they -m'ay be lined fup with lthe .-top. andleftl side' ruled guide lines into their correct position. The dies now being glued and registered, face down upon the glass top, the backing board, still held against the sponge rubber blanket by the vacuum cups is swabbed with glue. The pressure frame is now gently lowered until it rests upon the dies. The motor and pump are now shut off and a few seconds permitted to elapse after which a slight pressure with both hands is applied upon the handles. The pressure frame now rests in this position to permit the dies to set on the backing board. The pressure frame is now raised again to tcpmost position and Athe backing with dies removed from the glass top ready for the press.

The foregoing is for a one color job. To register a second, or additional colors, the one color job is permitted to remain for a short time with the pressure frame upon it and with the vacuum operating. The frame is now raised again together with the job and ink is supplied to the dies. The pressure frame is now lowered with the job upon the glass top and a slight manual pressure applied to said frame in order that the dies may make an ink impression upon the glass top. The vacuum is now released and the pressure frame manually raised. The job is carefully removed from the surface of the glass top and an image of the job will be found upon the glass. Now, to register a second and subsequent colors: When the dies are set for the first color on backing, instead of shutting off vacuum, it is left on and the pressure frame raised back into position with the completed first color on it.

The entire `,job is now inked, the pressure frame brought down again upon the glass top, an image made of it, the vacuum released, and the rst or key color taken off the table. All subsequent colors are registered in this key form by looking into the mirror and then repeating the same operations performed on the first color. Each backing will have the same margins, left and bottom side, because the backingswere laid to a predetermined guide line and shifting will not be necessary nor will there be any occasion for shifting dies if they have been carefully registered by the reflection in the mirror. The weight of the pressure frame is such that it anneals the board and die together and it is backed by a sponge rubber blanket of sufficient thickness to compensate for any differential or variations in the dies, thus making sure that all dies will contact the backing when the pressure frame is lowered. The compression springs balance the weight of the pressure frame and when raising or lowering same no effort is required. These springs can be loosened or compressed thus increasing or lessening the tension as desired.

In letter press and offset lithographing, register tables wherein the printed sheet is laid, printed side up, the layout sheet 6I is applied to the glass top and held in position by the setting attachments described, the mirror 1 not being required. The layout of the dies is made upon this sheet. The attachment, Fig. 9, used in this type of work is not employed for corrugated box printing but is removed from the table.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reflector set-up and register table, a support, a transparent top therefor, a mirror carried by said support beneath said top and disposed at an angle to the latter, lamps carried by said support between said mirror and top,

a pressure frame adjustably secured to said support, and vacuum operated pickup and support means arranged in said pressure frame.

2. In a reflector set-up and register table, a support, a transparent top therefor, a mirror carried by said support beneath said top and disposed at an angle to the latter, the angle of said mirror being determined by the thickness of said top, lamps adjustably carried by said support between said mirror and top, a pressure frame adjustably secured to said support above said y transparent top for movement to and from the same, and vacuum operated pickup and support means arranged in said pressure frame. V

3. In a reflector set-up and register table, a support, a transparent top therefor, marginal rules for said top, a mirror carried by said supv port beneath said top and disposed at an angle to the latter, lamps carried by said support between said mirror and top, a pressure frame adjustably secured to said support, a flexible blanket in said pressure frame, vacuum operated pickup and support means arranged in said pressure frame, said means including suction cups disposed in said flexible blanket, and weight-compensating `means connecting said pressure frame and support.

4. In a reiiector set-up and register table, a support, a transparent top therefor, marginal rules for said top, a mirror carried by said support beneath said top, lamps carried by said support between said mirror and top, a pressure frame adjustably secured to said support above said transparent top, a flexible blanket in said pressure frame, vacuum operated pickup and support means arranged in said pressure frame, said means including suction cups disposed in said blanket, said cups being arranged in series operative independently of each other whereby objects of different sizes placed upon said transparent top may be engaged. n v

5. In a reflector set-up and register table, a support, a pressure frame adjustably carried thereby, a perforated flexible blanket carried by said pressure frame, resilient suction cups arranged in the perforations in said blanket, said cups closing said blanket perforations in their operative position, hollow stems for said cups, and air suction means operatively connected to said stems to actuate said cups when the same are in engagement with an object.

6. In a reflector set-up and register table, a

support, a transparent top therefor, marginal rules for said top, lamps adjustably carried by said support beneath said top, a setting attachment for layout paper adjustably secured to opposite ends of one of said rules, said attachment including a carriage directly movable upon said rule, a paper-engaging foot carried thereby and resiliently supported, and a wedge adjustably received between said carriage and foot carrier.

7. In a reector set-up and register table, a support, a transparent top therefor, a pressure frame adjustably carried by said support, and vacuum operated pickup and support means arranged in said pressure frame for engagement with objects disposed upon said transparent top, said means including a resilient blanket of sufcient thickness to absorb inequalities in the thicknesses of objects engaged.

PAUL MARTIN NAHMENS. 

